PROMOTING RECONCILIATION THROUGH EDUCATION:
A VISION FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
An Address by
Cardinal Seán Brady
to the
Conference on Promoting Reconciliation through Education
Radisson Roe Park Hotel, Limavady
Tuesday 22nd February, 2005

Distinguished guests, members of the Educational community, colleagues and friends:

I am grateful to Bishop McKeown and the organisers of today’s Conference for giving me this opportunity to address such a large and distinguished gathering of educationalists, community representatives and community relations professionals. The theme is a vital one: Promoting Reconciliation Through Education.
I am also delighted, as a trustee of Catholic Schools in Northern Ireland, to have this opportunity to pay very special tribute to all of you for your outstanding work in promoting education.

The theme I have been asked to address speaks of A Vision for Catholic Schools. A vision is a way of seeing the future. It is a way which inspires confidence, energy and direction. A vision is something which is often caught rather than taught. In biblical terms, the concept of vision is closely related to the concept of dreams. Dreams lift our imagination to new horizons. They extend the limits of what we hope for, of what we believe is possible.

The Bible is full of dreams. There are two aspects of the biblical tradition of dreams which stand out in my mind today as we reflect on the contribution which Catholic Education can make to the urgent work of reconciliation in our divided society.

In the Scriptures, dreams or visions occur at moments of great challenge and change. They transform the challenge of change from obstacle to opportunity. We meet today at a moment of great challenge and change for the whole educational community in Northern Ireland. Imminent demographic change, curriculum change, policy change, notably in terms of the Costello proposals, legislative change, political change, the constant ebb and flow of cultural change among young people and others, this is the maelstrom which currently confronts the Educational community in Northern Ireland. We are searching for direction, for vision, in the midst of uncertainty and change. Yet the biblical view of change is that it is also an opportunity. God always acts most decisively and most powerfully to create new direction and energy in moments of confusion, challenge and change. In this sense, we do not seek to catch or create a vision of the role of Catholic schools today by relying solely on our own human genius or imagination. We rely instead on a vision of history and life which is rooted in the simple, yet profound conviction that ‘God is with us’! Indeed, God in his own creative, transforming and life-giving activity is the supreme educator, the model of all teachers. God is the source and end of all educational activity. From the beginning to the end of time the divine work is to educate the chosen people.

This is very important for the overwhelming majority of people in our society. Through intellectual reasoning and conscience, they have arrived at the freely chosen and persistent conviction of religious faith. The right of parents to have their children educated in accordance with that faith is a human right. It is a human right which has been recognised by a wide variety of national and international instruments. These include the UN Declaration on Human Rights, the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The explicit protection of this right of parents to have their children educated in accordance with their religious beliefs is important. It is an acknowledgement that it belongs to parents and to those who act in the place of parents, such as trustees, to determine how the values of a particular religion or philosophical approach to education are best secured and promoted in a school.

As the Catholic Bishops have pointed out in Building Peace: Shaping the Future, it is ‘a source of encouragement that central government [in Northern Ireland] explicitly commits itself to ensuring that parental choice will be a key factor in the provision of educational experience for young people.’ (p.4) This in itself is an acknowledgement that education is not limited to the transmission of knowledge and ideas. Education is intimately connected to the whole philosophical and religious system of beliefs and values which each human being is entitled to hold and propagate, as an essential expression of their freedom and dignity.

This point is often misunderstood by those outside of the Catholic system of education. Catholic education is not simply about the presentation of Catholic teaching in the classroom or about sacramental preparation, as the Equality Commission has apparently presumed in its recent decision to propose the removal of the Teacher’s Exception, or at least to limit it to primary schooling for the time being. Catholic education is a complete philosophical concept of the educational process, one based on a Judeao-Christian understanding of the world and the human person. We have a right to hold that view and to promote it in the same way that others have a right to promote theirs. Governments in a free, democratic and pluralist society, respectful of the principle of subsidiarity, will not impose their own philosophical view of the world on parents and children but will honour the right of parents to have their children educated in a manner consistent with their philosophical and religious convictions. Of course we uphold the right of other faith-communities to have their own schools as part of the rich diversity of a pluralist society.

Building Peace: Shaping the Future, reminds us that we live in a society which has an increasingly diverse, sometimes overlapping range of philosophical and religious approaches to life and the human person. It goes on to state that ‘it is reassuring that in Northern Ireland, the contribution of Catholic education is taken seriously and that it will be treated with parity of esteem.’ (p.4) This appears to me eminently sensible because a homogenous system in education is rarely the best way forward. A diverse society with diverse sources of identity and conviction requires a diverse range of educational systems, bound together by the fundamental principles of respect and parity of esteem. This is the key to any authentic pluralism. The Catholic Church welcomes the current diversity of provision of education in Northern Ireland provided all sectors are valued equally.
There is a second dimension of biblical dreams, which is of particular significance for our theme today. Dreams in the Bible do not just present a vision of the future. They also provide the path to that future. They do so by re-energising and refocusing our understanding of what motivated and inspired us in the past. The convictions, ideals and visions which inspired the prophets to great energy and activity in the name of God were often at risk from fatigue, familiarity or fearfulness. But, when the prophets became tired, disillusioned or overwhelmed by the scale of the task before them, God often intervenes by way of a dream or vision to remind the prophets of what it was that once inspired them. This in turn would refocus their energy on some aspect of their original mission which has particular significance for the new challenge to which God is calling them.

I believe that in focusing today on the role of Catholic Schools in the urgent task of reconciliation, that is precisely what we are doing. We are re-discovering, refocusing and re-energising an aspect of our original mission and task. This is something which has always been there. Now it requires new emphasis and new direction. In the midst of the division in Northern Ireland the Catholic Church has constantly repeated that tolerance and reconciliation is at the very heart of Catholic education. Echoing the words of Pope Paul VI, we have pointed out that the fundamental aim of a Catholic school is to make the civilisation of love a reality. Indeed love, for the Christian, is the foundation of all education. The supreme model and source of that love, in turn, is the Blessed Trinity. The Blessed Trinity is a community of persons who exist with distinct identities. The three divine persons exist in perfect unity, in mutual harmony and communion with each other but with particular missions and roles in the whole work of salvation.

In this theological motif of the Blessed Trinity and community, the vision of Catholic Education finds a potentially powerful and renewing ally – an ally which is a source of imagination and action in its work of reconciliation and contributing to a shared future in Northern Ireland. Renewed theological interest in the doctrine of the Trinity. A doctrine so closely associated with the tradition of our national Apostle Patrick suggests that we find in this primary truth of the Christian faith an important social model for the dynamics of inclusion and diversity in an increasingly pluralist society. On the one hand, the integrity of distinct identities is honoured and recognised. On the other, each identity is enriched and sustained by the generosity, respect, and ultimately the love of the other. This is the source and ideal of human community, living in communion, truth, fellowship, justice, peace and love. This is the origin, and model of the Kingdom of God which Jesus introduces as a radically new and exciting opportunity for the world in his life, death, resurrection and the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost. The key to the harmony of this community of truth and justice, of love, service and peace, however, is that the boundaries of distinct identity are recognised, honoured and celebrated. However, these boundaries are sufficiently selfless and porous as to allow the other to feel welcome, cherished and unthreatened. This is the perfect model of the reconciled, diverse but vibrant community which we wish to see in the increasingly diverse society of Northern Ireland.

This model of Trinitarian communion is also the defining motif for both the internal and external relationships which define the Catholic School. On the one hand it affirms what is and should be the most obvious and defining and tangible aspect of the ethos of a Catholic School. That is, a spirituality and atmosphere of communion and community, in which the individual is cherished and nourished by the community. The individuals in turn celebrate and nourish the community to which they freely assent to belong.

Many people often comment on the community atmosphere of Catholic schools. I believe it is a tangible consequence of our Eucharistic culture, our deep commitment to the family and to our particular understanding of the essential relationship between the family, the parish and the school. Commitment to a pervasive ethos of supportive, nurturing and pedagogically professional community is, I believe, one of the keys to understanding the distinct identity of the Catholic School. It is one of the factors which ensure the continued high demand for this particular type of schooling both nationally and internationally. It also responds to the developing sense of international solidarity and interdependence, which characterises much of modern culture, particularly among the young. Developing and protecting this sense of community which rooted in respect for the individual and in a shared commitment to justice and the common good, in every aspect of the life of a Catholic school, should be a particular priority for principals, teachers and Boards of Governors alike.

In Building Peace: Shaping the Future, the Catholic Bishops have set out some of the implications of this commitment to inclusive community in the particular context of Northern Ireland.
Like others, Catholics believe explicitly in a God who actively and endlessly reconciles. In doing so God draws people to each other and into a loving community of faith. God is a God who heals and who enters into a personal relationship of love with all women and men. To believe in this God is by definition to promote reconciliation, especially where it is urgently needed.

This process, we believe, begins at the level of the individual. Those who learn to be most convinced, realistic and confident about their own identity and worth, I believe are best able to establish mutually-enriching relationships with others. The same is true of communities. By fully appreciating initially their own school community, Catholic schools foster a healthy social awareness that will naturally want to reach out to the wider community. Catholics, by the very nature of their religious identity, rooted in the Gospel of Trinitarian love, are committed to social action and the promotion of the common good. This includes, as a matter of fidelity to their own religious ideals, an obligation to reach out to the wider society of which we are a part.

This is why, for example, Catholic schools have played their part with others in recent years in providing children with a vision of tolerance, diversity and reconciliation. They have played their part in Education for Mutual Understanding, in inter-school activities, in cross-border initiatives, in cross-community exchange, in developing peace education within the curriculum. While it is now a welcome part of the new Core Syllabus for Religious Education, the RE programme for all Catholic schools has, for some time, included extensive material on the beliefs, practices and traditions of other Christian traditions and world religions for some time. The positive and restraining impact of this commitment of Catholic and other faith-based schools in Northern Ireland on the attitudes and behaviour of young people, particular during the worst periods of conflict and disorder, is not often acknowledged by those who perpetuate the profoundly unjust and wearisome notion that faith-based schools in Northern Ireland are inherently divisive. No one system of schooling has a monopoly on seeking or achieving respect, tolerance or reconciliation in our society. Bringing children together in the same school is only one way of approaching this important ideal. The distinct contribution of the Catholic School to the promotion of reconciliation is the ability to ensure that tolerance, respect and openness to others is fundamental to the formation of a confident, respectful Catholic personality. In addition, Catholic schools, while inviting respect for their right to a particular identity and ethos, are welcoming to pupils and parents from the broadest possible range of social, academic, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

In practical terms, it is manifestly unfair to expect schools to heal all the divisions in our society. Catholic schools are nonetheless faced, with others, by the challenge to contribute as far as they can to the resolution of this problem. They do so by:
Reconciling and cherishing diverse identities
Creating a climate of openness and inclusion and
Encouraging young people to play a full part in a just and equitable society
Inculcating respect for and courtesy towards those who are different.
I am happy to see that these are the themes which will be explored in the group sessions to be held this afternoon. It will include considering what we mean when we say in Building Peace: Shaping the Future, that Catholic schools do not exclude and should not be seen to exclude other children. In particularly they welcome children of other denominations – whose parents accept the Mission statement and Aims of the school. That means, in principle, Catholic schools are open to pupils of all denominations. It means unpacking the practical consequences of the Costello Proposals for our understanding of economic, social, cultural and academic diversity within and beyond the Catholic sector. It means exploring more thoroughly the opportunities, which exist for closer and more effective partnership with others in the interests of the common good.

The school is, in fact, the principal means of helping parents to educate their children. Catholic parents have a serious obligation in conscience to seek and provide that system of education which most comprehensively supports their religious and philosophical convictions. Catholic schools exist in support of those convictions and are an essential part of the mission of the Church in a free society. What we are called to do today, is to re-energise those convictions in favour of peace and reconciliation while cherishing the integrity and hard won rights of our own Catholic identity. This is the essence of authentic pluralism. This is the spirit and intention of the working party’s report on ‘Integrating Education’, Towards a Culture of Tolerance, when it asserts that: ‘it is a seminal purpose of the Northern Ireland Education Service to promote a culture of tolerance and reconciliation’.

We acknowledge that Catholic schools have to play their part in breaking down traditional division. We ask others to recognise and celebrate the particular identity and character of Catholic schools and to promote their right to exist and flourish in a pluralist and diverse society.

In this regard it is interesting to note that the Marino Institute of Education, Dublin has recently embarked upon a project entitled ‘Re-imagining the Catholic School’. People engaged in that project have had the opportunity to work in an intensive and interactive way with all sections of the school community, in most of the second-level schools in our diocese. Their considered opinion is that there is still a relatively warm welcome for the Catholic ethos in most of the schools in which they have worked. The warmth with which they have been accepted throughout the diocese has encouraged them. The feedback from staffs has been very positive. They have discovered some wonderfully committed educationalists who are superb advocates for the continuation of the Catholic ethos. They are living witnesses and authentic role models for all the in the school community.

However, in the project there are also clear indications that secularism is alive and well and a growing threat to the religious character of Catholic schools. There has been a constant and persistent erosion of faith practice within the secondary sector. Growing percentages of the student body, the parental body and indeed many of the staff, no longer actively espouse the Catholic ethos. There are few articulate voices that speak cogently on behalf of the Catholic school. As mature teachers retire there is less likelihood that their successors are committed to the transmission of the Catholic ethos.

It would seem that there is danger that the Catholic school may not be valued so much for its transmission of a Catholic ethos or its articulation of Catholic values as for other perceived values such as good academic results, good discipline, and good pastoral care.

The report suggest that most young people still operate out of a pre-Vatican II model of Church, as indeed do most of the adults with whom they spoke to within the school community. This significant failure of catechetics needs to be addressed urgently.

At second level there is lack of connectedness between the school and the parish community. The shortage of full-time chaplains compounds this difficulty. Principals are isolated. They are custodians of such large numbers of students and have a huge responsibility and influence. Yet they have received little training or support in how to be a spiritual leader. This suggests that there is a need to recognise how pivotal their role is and to establish structured on-going methods of training and support, not just in the techniques of management and administration, but how to develop and promote a vibrant and inclusive Catholic ethos.

RE teams often feel beleaguered and isolated. They have a sense of going ‘against the current’ and they feel that too much of the responsibility for the faith life of the school is put on their shoulders That responsibility should be a whole school or a whole community issue.

This suggests that there is a need for a comprehensive catechetical programme to educate people about the Vatican II understanding of the Church, an understanding which has at its heart the vision of the Church as the ‘sacrament of the unity of humankind’, rooted in the life and love of the community of the Trinity. Such a programme should offer effective working models of schools which are vibrant and inclusive communities of faith. Evangelisation of schools must begin with teachers who are a unique group of professionals with incredible influence over the lives of young people. Their spiritual formation needs to be addressed. Innovative and practical ways, to mesh the life of the school community with that of the parish and the diocese are required.

The Catholic school creates a sense of Christian community. The GAA builds a sense of local community as also does the local communications media, for example, local radio, local newspapers, but the Catholic school is uniquely placed to create a sense of Christian community. That is, a society that is noted for its sense of caring, bound together by a sense of belonging and inspired by a spirit of justice and truth. How can this happen? One suggested way is to employ full-time trained chaplains.

We speak of the need to involve home, family, school and parish in the education process. We need to motivate and inspire and empower the students themselves to grow in faith and to engage positively with their education. Students are eager to play soccer, or Gaelic or other games because role models are pointed out or indicated and they are given the good experience of playing sport and watching sport. They find it life-giving and life-enhancing. There is a great need to ensure that they find religion life-giving and life-enhancing in all its celebrations and manifestations.

In the Our Father we pray “Father may thy Kingdom come”. The Catholic school is one instrument for the coming of the Kingdom, that is, for the reign of God to come into our world. We need to remember that fact always, if the Catholic school is to retain its distinctive characteristic. So, let’s hear it again, the school is an instrument in the reign of God which is breaking into the world. That reign is coming; of that we can be absolutely certain. And the certainty of that promise is what assures those who are involved in the Catholic schools that their work will never become just another mundane task.

The Second Vatican Council has said that the future belongs to those who offer hope and reasons for living. This is precisely the task of a Catholic School. We have something unique, dynamic, inclusive and positive to offer in the Catholic school system. If we lose sight of our dreams, of our core vision and purpose, however, we run the risk of settling into apathy, bland pursuit of personal comfort and wealth, or a destructive cynicism about all that aspires to be good.

In conclusion, therefore, let me remind you of one of the first dreams described to us in the Bible. Happily, it involves a young person, a young person who, like so many of those in our schools finds himself disillusioned with family, with life and with God. So much so, indeed, that this young man called Jacob chooses to run away from home and eventually finds himself alone and lost in the middle of the desert. So, in his frustration and his fear he does what many of us have done in our time, he begins to ‘wrestle’ with God. But if any of you have ever wrestled with God you will know what this young man was about to discover – that God always wins! Not by fighting back, or by returning impressive answers to our angry questions, but by simply letting us get tired of the anger and the fighting. And so it was that this young man, like so many before him and since, exhausted his energising in a fruitless fight with God and decided to go asleep in the middle of the desert. While he slept, he had a dream. And in the dream the clouds separated over the place where he sleeping and a ladder descended from heaven. On the ladder, the angels of God ascended and descended, bringing the things of heaven to bear upon the things of the earth, and bringing the concerns of the world up the ladder to be transformed by the vision of heaven. After some time enjoying this dream, the young man woke with a strange sense of calm. The fighting was over and in his mind, the Scriptures tell us, he said to himself – ‘Truly God was in this place, and I did not know it’. What a wonderful phrase to with which to see anew the daily challenges and frustrations of our Catholic Schools – truly God is in this place, and I do not always see it!

This young man then took out the little vessel of oil, which all desert people would carry to keep themselves moist, and much like a bishop anoints the altar of a Church on which the Eucharist is celebrated. He poured the oil over the stone on which he had slept and had his dream. This young man went on to become the leader of one of the most successful and enduring of the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Jacob, and the place of his dreams became a great shrine honoured by the people for centuries.

As we gather here today, to reflect on those dreams and visions which inspire the work of Catholic education, let us turn to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who expands the limits of our horizons of expectation and possibility. We ask the Spirit to renew our sense of the original dream which inspires and motivates us. It is the dream of Jesus, of which Jacob’s dream in the book of Genesis is an anticipation, the dream of in-breaking into human history and affairs of the Kingdom of God. In this dream, which defines the life and mission of Jesus, the Trinitarian life and love of heaven became a reality among and becomes the source and model of all of our relationships and actions, relationships based on justice and truth, on respect and love, on healing, reconciliation and peace.

It is only by events such as today, by courageously and creatively recovering our sense of mission and purpose in the particular context of our own society, that this powerful dream will remain alive in our schools. I wish you well for your deliberations, in which you are not alone or relying on your own power. My prayer is that you will rediscover the dream, and in doing so, like Jacob, become the bearers of new and exciting possibility to the young people in your charge.
Thank you.

LENTEN MESSAGE
FROM
CARDINAL SEAN BRADY
TO
THE PEOPLE OF
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ARMAGH
6 FEBRUARY 2005

Dear People,
Lent is with us once more. Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It is a day when we pray for the blessing of God’s forgiveness and the gift of light to see things more clearly and to recognise that we are sinners. Lent is a time when we learn to see God’s truth, love and mercy revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In His life the healing and transforming love of God was fully at work. He went about doing good. As Christians each of us is called to continue the work of Christ in the world.

Last November, the clergy of the Diocese spent three days in conference in Bundoran. You might say we were examining the signs of the times. We were also gratefully remembering the past, trying to live in the present, whilst looking forward to the future with confidence. In all of this the source of our confidence is always Jesus Christ. He has promised to be with His followers to the end of the age.

The Church tries to watch the signs of the changing times, so as to discover what these signs are saying, and to respond to them effectively and with imagination. This involves directing our thoughts to the future, which lies before us. It also involves change. Change is not always easy or comfortable – but change is often essential.

This Lent, everyone who is interested will have the opportunity to take part in a forum to discuss the formation of an action plan to address the pastoral needs of the Diocese. Regional meetings are being planned throughout the entire Diocese. These will offer everyone the chance to contribute to this process.

I would encourage as many as possible to play their part in contributing to our discussions. I know from past experience how generously you have responded with your time, commitment and generosity to various initiatives at diocesan and parish level. Once again I invite you to collaborate in this exciting project; to play your part in contributing to the discussions so that we can all look forward to an effective and realistic course of action.

One day, after speaking to the crowds from Peter’s boat, Jesus asked Peter to put out into the deep sea. Putting out into the deep meant a change of plan for Peter and his companions. They had worked all night but had caught nothing. In fact, they had left their boats and, dejected and depressed, were already washing their nets. In other words they were about to call it a day. Yet Peter had such trust in the words of Christ that he changed his plans on the spot. The result – they caught a great number of fish.

It is cliché to say that we live in a time of immense and ceaseless change, very fast change. Change can be exciting, sometimes risky, always different.

It is in an effort to read the signs of the times and plan for the future that we are holding regional meetings to which you are invited. You will be asked to identify what you see as the key actions we need to engage in together in the next three years in order to continue the work of Christ in the world and in this Diocese

I pray every blessing upon you this Lent and I look forward to the receiving the fruits of your discussions.

STATEMENT ON PEACE PROCESS
EXTRACT FROM HOMILY GIVEN AT POOR CLARE MONASTERY, FAUGHART
FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2005

Appealing for renewed efforts in the search for peace during his homily at the Rite of Religious Profession of the Order of St. Clare in the Poor Clare Monastery, Faughart on Friday 4 February 2005 Cardinal Seán Brady made the following appeal.

EXTRACT FROM HOMILY
Recent events and statements have created anxiety about the search for peace in our own land. So, a convent dedicated to the tradition of peace and selfless service associated with Clare and Francis has a particular significance. Located, as it is, in the ‘Gap of the North’ the meeting place between North and South, it is a symbolic frontier of the conflict which has claimed so many lives and damaged so many others in this land. The witness of a community of people who ‘hold all things in common’, who daily put aside their own legitimate desires for the sake of the good of the whole community, is a powerful reminder of what makes for real and lasting peace.

Peace, without a commitment to the common good, to the good of the whole of society in all its complexity of allegiances, identities and aspirations, is a peace that cannot be sustained. For, only a commitment to the common good, to the legitimate structures of social life such as representative and democratic government, just laws and policing, which are instruments of a free society, can provide the social basis for justice and peace.

Some seven years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and some ten years after the first ceasefire, it is the time to gratefully acknowledge the progress that has been achieved and to honestly admit that things are better than they were. It is also the time to realistically see the difficulties that, here and now, exist and which still need to be sorted out. It is also the time to look forward in hope to a future when many of those difficulties will have been overcome and eliminated.

One thing is becoming clearer. There cannot be a peace process without a corresponding justice process, without discussion and agreement about the moral, legal and civic values which should underpin the society we are seeking to create. Perhaps we have all been too tolerant at times of activity, not confined to any one part of the community, which is inconsistent with the vision of a shared, just and democratic society. One consequence of recent events is that such activity is now more clearly seen for what it is – a threat to the shared and democratic future for which the overwhelming majority of people voted for in the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement was a vote for peace; a peace built on justice, truth and freedom. That should not be forgotten.

So, no cause, no sense of alienation from the State, no warped moral logic, can ever regard activities such as armed robbery, racketeering and maiming as anything other than gravely contrary to the common good and therefore criminal, sinful and a constant threat to justice and peace. If ever such activities become part of a general culture of criminality and violence, supported by threats and intimidation; well then they become forms of debilitating oppression to whole communities.

A crime is a crime precisely because it injures the good of other people, because it damages the public good. No one should be in any doubt that the deliberate and intentional killing of the innocent is a crime by any human standard and a grave evil in the sight of God.

Some people have responded to recent events with understandable anger and disappointment. Yet, it may be that the challenge is to see the current difficulties, real and significant, as they are, as an opportunity rather than an insurmountable obstacle. The fact remains that the best way of moving our society forward, the best way of transforming any latent attitudes of tolerance for violent and illegal activity, is to work together to construct a better society – the kind of society we came close to achieving in the run-up to Christmas. Admittedly, the task will now be more difficult. The damage to trust is such that clearer and more reliable commitments will be required about the presence and activities of paramilitary organisations. However, if dealt with patiently and constructively, as with previous difficulties, it is just possible that we could, in fact, arrive at a better position than we have ever been in before. The language of anger, or of subtle threat, of humiliation or intimidation, merely compounds the sense of disillusionment that sometimes prevails among some people about public life. But now is the time for us all to recommit ourselves to the noble task of peace building, peace building with enthusiasm despite the weariness which the setbacks and slow pace of progress naturally instils.

I appeal to all who genuinely desire peace to continue to work together to restore confidence and trust and to appreciate the difficulties which some people may be encountering. I appeal to all of those with influence in the current situation to return to the methodology and language of patient and constructive dialogue and negotiation. We have come too far, learnt too much and raised our sights too high, to return to the futility of threat, violence and blame.

It is always better to overcome evil with good, even if this approach is slower and less self-satisfying and more demanding, than with anger and violence. It is better to bring hope, rather than despair. In this spirit of freedom we need to look deep into our hearts and see what we really desire for ourselves and for those who will come after us. What kind of society do we wish to pass on to them? If we are able to draw closer to our neighbours and open our minds and hearts and imagine what kind of future they dream of for their children, perhaps we would be pleasantly surprised at how much their dreams resemble ours. Then we could all work together to make that dream come true. After all, as St. Francis reminds us, it is in the giving that we receive. In being an instrument of peace that we continue to protect the joy and dreams of the children of our land.

WORLD DAY OF PEACE – 2005
HOMILY GIVEN BY
CARDINAL SEÁN BRADY
IN
ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, ARMAGH
1 JANUARY 2005

I have a friend called Mariadas Kagithapu, who lives on the east coast of India in the city of Visakhapatnam. I tried to ring him in recent days to see if he and his community have survived the calamity but without success. It is amazing – every day we hear news of disasters but somehow the scale and the circumstances of this latest one were different.

THE TRAGEDY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

So today, we are united in grief and concern for the victims. We are united in bewilderment at how something like this could happen. We are united in shock and sorrow at the sudden death of so many hundreds of thousands of fellow human beings. We are united in awe and dismay at our own fragile hold on human life. Gradually we are also becoming united in our awareness and knowledge that we belong to the same family – the Human Family. We may have different countries of origin; different colours of skin; different politics and beliefs but ultimately, we all have a common origin and the same final destiny. We are all citizens of the same planet. No doubt those victims had loving mothers and doting fathers. Their hopes were similar to our own, to be happy and to have a peaceful New Year and to make a difference.

Out of this gradual awareness of our common origin and of our same final destiny, there comes a growing need to help and to rescue, to share and to mobilise in solidarity. We have become more aware of our responsibility to reach out to one another in times of disaster and of crisis. We have come to realise that we are indeed our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

AN INVINCIBLE HOPE

There are many tragic situations in the world but this is surely one of the worst. Faced with such situations Christians believe that God alone can enable people to over come evil and achieve good. Because we are certain that evil will not prevail, we nourish an invincible hope, which sustains our efforts to promote justice and peace. For peace is something good, very good indeed and it is the fruit of solidarity. If you were to ask the average person what they want for the New Year my bet is that peace and good health for themselves and for their families and for all whom they love would be high on their list.

MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY – CITIZENS OF THE WORLD

Each year the Holy Father prepares and issues, some time before Christmas, a message for the World Day of Peace. This year the message was published on the 8th December. But, in the light of the horrific events of last Monday in South East Asia, that Message has now assumed, in my opinion, an importance of far greater dimensions. It states:

“As a member of the human family, each person becomes, as it were, a citizen of the world with consequent duties and rights since all human beings are united by a common origin and the same supreme destiny”.

Pope John Paul II is reminding each one of us that we are citizens of the world since we all belong to the same family – the human family. We come from God. We are all united by the same supreme destiny. We go to God – God is the Alpha and the Omega – God is our beginning and our end. We are, in fact, brothers and sisters, children of the same Creator – God.

THE PLIGHT OF UNDER PRIVILIGED CHILDREN

The Holy Father goes on to spell out some of the rights and duties that flow from the fact that we all belong to the same family – the Human Family. He says:
“By the mere fact of being conceived, a child is entitled to rights and deserving of care and attention and someone has the duty to provide this”.

I was in the Special Babies Unit of the Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast a short time before Christmas and I saw there just how much care babies, every baby, needs at birth. But, in particular those babies who have been born prematurely and those who have special needs. But, thank God, there are so many dedicated mothers and fathers as well as so many dedicated nurses and doctors who devote so much loving care and attention to babies in this country. All the babies in the world, however, are not so fortunate.
Recently the Annual Report of UNICEF, that is, the United Nations Children’s Organisation, drew attention to the plight of millions of under-privileged children around the world. It reports that
More than a billion children are being denied the rights contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child agreed by World Leaders in 1989,
For example, one in twenty-one (21), that is, ninety million children are severely hungry,
One in seven (7) two hundred and seventy million have no health care at all.
Children accounted for nearly half the 3.6 million people killed in wars since 1990.
2.2 million children die each year through lack of immunisation while
1.4 million children die each year due to lack of access to safe water or sanitation.

At the time of the millennium eight development goals were agreed upon to be met by 2015 and it was agreed that it would cost somewhere in the region of 40 to 70 billion dollars. In 2003 world military spending was 956 billion dollars. Let us hope and pray that the commitments of meeting the eight Millennium Development Goals will be kept.

ALL THE GOODS OF THE EARTH FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE EARTH

The precious prize of peace is closely linked to the development of all peoples. In other words, if the good things of creation were available equally to all the members of the Human Family, then peace among the citizens of this world would be made much more secure. All the indications are that the earth and all the good things it contains were intended, by the Creator of the earth, for the use of everyone on this earth and of all peoples. Surely the Creator intends the goods of this earth for all the sons and daughters of the same Creator Father, to be shared equally among all the brothers and sisters of the human family.

A POWERFUL MOBILISATION OF SOLIDARITY

In recent days we have seen, and in days and weeks and months to come, we will see, please God, a most powerful mobilisation of solidarity with all those unfortunate people of South East Asia.
What we are seeing here is the application of the principle of world citizenship. It is unfortunate that it takes a disaster of this scale to bring home to us the fact that we are all members of the one Human Family and that we all have responsibilities to each other. But what a welcome change from the mobilisation of international coalitions to wage war and wreak destruction!

We thank God for courageous news reporters and journalists and camera crews who risk their own lives and certainly sacrifice their own comforts to bring these images and stories into our living rooms. As we reflect on this immense tragedy we will be moved to dig deep into our pockets and our wallets to help our unfortunate brothers and sisters of those disaster stricken countries. We will remember them in our prayers and in our sacrifices.

Bishop Patrick Walsh has invited people of Down and Connor to fast on Friday next for the sake of these victims. I would like to think that people in this diocese would consider a similar fast and donate the proceeds of the fast to the victims of this terrible tragedy.

As a result of our reflection we will also hopefully become more sensitive to the needs of the immigrants in our own midst such as the Lithuanians, the Latvians, the Portuguese. We may come to realise their fears and their insecurities but also their hopes and their aspirations for the New Year.
But, as we contemplate this immense human tragedy, let us determine to work for the just and fair development of all nations. For this is the basis – the sound basis – for a real and lasting peace.
ASKING AND GIVING FORGIVENESS – SOMETHING HUMAN

Compared with the tragedy in Asia, our problems seem very slight indeed. Yet it is a great pity that once more the peace process here is halted. Is it a sign that lasting peace needs something more than political structures and mechanisms? Perhaps what is missing is a greater capacity, in all of us, to accept and understand what is different and a greater willingness to forgive from the heart. We all need to be forgiven by others, so we must be all ready to forgive. Asking and giving forgiveness is something profoundly human but it does not happen spontaneously and naturally. However, sometimes it is the only way out of situations blocked by ancient animosities.

The difficulty of forgiving does not always arise from present circumstances but can often have its roots in the fears and suspicions, the hatreds and divisions of the distant past. A sort of healing of memories may be needed to ensure that nobody remains a prisoner of the past. Such a healing may be required to bring about the kind of warmth of relationships, acceptance and understanding, which would be desirable among prospective partners in a shared and peaceful future. Perhaps it is time for us all to bite the lip, let go of our hurts, ask and offer forgiveness and move on for the sake of the greater good. It is not a case of forgetting the past but rather of examining it with a new attitude and a new outlook in the light of suffering endured in order to learn the lesson that the deadly cycle of revenge can, and should be replaced, once and for all, by the kind of freedom which is the fruit of forgiveness from the heart.
It is interesting that World Day of Peace is celebrated on the Feast of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Jesus – the son of Mary – was foretold by the prophet, Isaiah as the ‘Prince of Peace’. When at last he came, the angels sang out:

Glory to God on the Highest and peace on earth among those whom He favours.
Mary is often invoked under the title ‘Queen of Peace’. Today we do so again as we place ourselves, and all our loved ones, under her patronage, as we pray for peace in 2005. This is the year dedicated to the Eucharist – the supreme sacrament of love. By sharing in the one bread we come to realise that we are not only ONE family but GOD’S family as well and that together we can make our own effective contribution to building a world based on the values of Justice, Freedom and Peace.
AMEN

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2004
MOST REV SEÁN BRADY
ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH AND PRIMATE OF ALL IRELAND

I simply love the ancient Christmas hymn which speaks of the infant Jesus as
“A blossom fair and bright,
That in the midst of winter will change to dawn our night”.
Christian tradition places the birth of Jesus in the midst of winter. It comes very soon after winter Solstice when the old sun is sinking ever lower in the sky and the old year is fading away in the long, dark, cold nights.

Our ancestors, in the Northern Hemisphere, took this dying away of the world in winter very seriously. They had no choice, I imagine, because they were not protected from its rigors by such things as instant light and heat, an abundance of food and drink, antibiotics and thermal fabrics. So they felt very keenly indeed the cold and the darkness, the hunger and the depression, the decreasing vitality and energy, and the silence.

The fact that the birth of Jesus followed closely on the death of the sun, enabled Christians to celebrate Jesus, the son of Mary, as the ‘New Sun’ shining on the world. This striking title, ‘New Sun’ with all its connotations of light, heat and energy, summed up all the gladness and gratitude and hope which they experienced in those anxious days at the end of December.

So, Christmas is a season of newness. A season that contains the seed of new beginnings and new hope and new possibilities. It is, of course, a festival of gladness and good cheer – of sentiment and nostalgia, being with the family. But it is much more. For essentially, Christmas is the great gift that comes hard on the heels of winter. Yet it is a sealed gift, a package that each one must open and deploy for herself. For if there is to be a fertile and fruitful spring, the seed-gift certainly must not remain unopened. It must be received and welcomed by each one of us.

On the outside we can read the address – ‘To you, my beloved disciple from the one who loves you’. If I look at the date marked thereon I will see, with some surprise, the date, perhaps, of my baptism or my confirmation or my marriage or my ordination, or religious profession. If I have the courage to open the gift I will find therein a short message from the lover – the Lord himself –

I am with you,
in every time and every place,
not only official times but every moment,
always seek me, never give up
and you will become my disciple in truth.

All of this may leave me scratching my head and wondering how can I further explore and nurture this inspiring declaration. As a minimum I reckon that it will involve:

Becoming familiar with the never-failing presence of Emmanuel – God with us.
Having the courage to check things with Him.
Looking at everything in my world through His eyes.

And treasuring, above all, a constant awareness of His power and love at work in my life.

May this Christmas become a joyful memory for you, for your family and for those with whom you share your life. May the wonders of Christ’s birth renew your sense of wonder in the gift of life itself and may the coming year be a time of hope fulfilled for you and yours. Our Saviour has come, have no more fear. He can change to dawn all our nights.

RE-OPENING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, DRUMCREE, PORTADOWN
SUNDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2004
HOMILY GIVEN BY MOST REV SEÁN BRADY

I congratulate all concerned in this beautiful re-ordering of your Church – the Church of St. John the Baptist, Drumcree, which we rededicate to the glory of God today. Built in 1977 this Church replaced ‘Old St. John’s’ which was sited, as you know, in the cemetery nearby and which had served the parish as a house of prayer and place of worship for almost two hundred (200) years. As many of you also know – old St John’s is now relocated in Cultra Folk Museum as an example of an 18th century barn-church.
Built around 1777 old St. John’s was the mother Church of the parish. St. Patrick’s, William Street came later, in 1835, when the growth in the 19th century created the necessity for a church in that part of town.

When this Church opened in 1977 it was a project planned and executed in less than two years by the late Dean MacLarnon – then Parish Priest of Drumcree. Hundreds of families had migrated rather suddenly to the Garvaghy Road as a result of troubles, which were widespread in other parts of the town throughout the 1970s. There was an urgent need for a new church, I am told, and that it was provided hastily on a rather limited budget. It was to the credit of Dean MacLarnon and of the faithful generous people of this parish that within a year of its opening, all the debt was paid. There was, however, an understanding that as soon as possible, the interior would be made more ornate and beautiful. Happily this has now been done. I rejoice with all of you who, under the leadership of Father Larkin, have seen this project to its conclusion.

The opening of St. John’s in October 1977 was the first liturgical function presided over by Archbishop, later Cardinal Ó Fiaich just two weeks after his episcopal ordination as Archbishop of Armagh. The Church has, thus far, served over a generation of the faithful along with its sister Church, St. Patrick’s which Canon Early entirely re-ordered and refurbished in the 1980s.

Canon Early’s funeral was one of the last to take place in St. John’s before it closed last year for the present refurbishment. He is buried just inside the cemetery gates. That is entirely appropriate since it was he who extended and renovated St. John’s cemetery over ten (10) years ago including a paved seating area on the site of the original St. John’s Church. Dean MacLarnon died recently when the present renovations were well advanced.

The parish of Drumcree has now two beautifully appointed churches thanks to the faith and generosity of the people and the labours of its pastors, past and present. For all of this we are gathered here today to give thanks and praise.

This Church was dedicated to John the Baptist – a man who comes into his own at this time every year. His message was strong and clear – ‘Repent for the kingdom of God is near’. The whole point of his preaching was that his audience might see the foolishness of their ways and change and have their sins forgiven. It was a tough message because change is always tough and the older you get the tougher change becomes. Yet people flocked to hear John because people saw that what John said made sense. Even though his words challenged them those words gave them hope.

So, once again the words of John the Baptist will ring out in this Church as they have done in this place every December for the past 227 years. Many will hear those words. Others, unfortunately, will not hear them or heed them. But for those who listen and heed the call to forgiveness, it will make the difference of a really happy Christmas. Jesus has left us a great way to find peace and happiness – a way to get rid of our guilt and shame. It is the sacrament of Confession, which brings pardon and peace to those who ask it.
Today the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions all recall the imagery of the swords being hammered into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. The message is a strong one. I believe it is particularly timely for all of us here in Northern Ireland for it is both hopeful and challenging.

Swords and spears are symbols of war. They are instruments of offensive attack. They mean death and destruction, maiming and laming, wounding and disabling. We have had far too much of that already. Hopefully it will all soon be a thing of the distant past.

Ploughshares and pruning forks on the other hand suggest a totally different scene. The ploughman turns over, not a new leaf, but a new sod. He tills the ground. The soil is made ready to receive the seed. Fresh growth springs forth bringing hope and joy. Pruning hooks lop off dead and overgrown branches. They make way for new shoots to blossom and bear fruit.

For years, the people of Northern Ireland have waited patiently for the kind of peace envisaged by the prophet Isaiah almost three thousand years ago. They know well that there is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under Heaven – time for keeping and a time for throwing away. Many believe that that season is now here. Hopes are high for a new dawn – for an era of new relationships. I believe that these new relationships are possible and that they should be characterised by generosity and understanding, mutual respect and courage, as well as forgiveness and patience.

In recent years the people of Northern Ireland have made a remarkable journey. Some are weary of that journey and believe that nothing more can be done. Others continue to hope that generosity and new approaches to old problems can bring a brighter future. My appeal to everyone in our society is to continue to work in favour of hope. To believe that new relationships and better times are always possible.
In seeking to resolve our problems there is always the temptation to make the perfect solution the enemy of the good solution. Yet a good solution can create the opportunity for better solutions to emerge in time. So I appeal to all involved in the negotiations to grasp the good opportunity that now presents itself and to give us reasons to hope for new possibilities and for a new beginning to our shared future by reaching agreement in the coming days. For, should these hopes be once more dashed, then the only winners will be the cynics, and the losers, the people who believed that locally elected representatives could take responsibility for our local situation.

The prospect of a situation where people’s and nations will no more lift up sword against nation, and where there will be no more training for war, is almost overwhelming. But the reports are that this is exactly what our politicians are hammering out these days.

The rest of us must not just stand around and do nothing – the minimum is that we accompany the politicians and their officials with our prayers and best wishes. Peace is at once a value and a duty. We need to hammer out and transform, in our own lives, those attitudes of bitterness which are hostile to peace, and which threaten the dignity and respect due to everyone as a human person. We need to lop off the old hatred and suspicion and intolerance so that peace can begin to take root as a value deeply embedded within the heart of every person. In this way it can spread to families and to the different groups and associations within our society until the whole of the community is involved.

Followers of Christ are interested primarily in the peace of Christ. The peace of Christ is, in the first place, reconciliation with the Father. But peace is also reconciliation with one’s brothers and sisters. In the prayer that Jesus taught us, the “Our Father”, the forgiveness that we ask of God is linked to the forgiveness that we give to our brothers and sisters. That is the authentic foundation of any real and lasting peace.
Yes, the vision of universal peace given to us by Isaiah, can seem like something of a dream, but I am convinced that this dream can come true. In a society where the welfare of every human person is safeguarded and people try to share freely and trustingly with one another the riches of their minds and their talents, what once seemed impossible becomes possible and the civilisation of love itself, can become a reality.

Your Church is being re-opened at the beginning of the Year of the Eucharist – Announcing the year, Pope John Paul II asked for two things:

A renewed attention to the celebration of the Sunday Mass and secondly,
A great appreciation of the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament leading to more time being spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

I am very grateful and appreciative of the work that has been done in preparation for the celebration of this Mass. I hope and pray that the spirit of generosity and co-operation and willingness will continue to be a mark of every Sunday Eucharist in this parish.

I also hope that, especially during this season of Advent, adoration of Jesus will be a permanent feature of the life of this Church. Jesus came in the flesh from the womb of Mary nearly 2000 years ago. He will come again in glory at the end of time. But for now, the meantime, we have his promise – ‘Behold, I am with you always to the end of time’. We have the outstanding example of the fulfilment of that promise in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is that strong fidelity which has inspired the faithful people of Drumcree to build and maintain beautiful churches and altars and sanctuaries. Happy are those who ar called to the supper of the hands of God – who takes away the sins of the world. They always want the best possible setting for that supper and they shall have their reward.

PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY OF MAYNOOTH CONFERRAL
ADDRESS GIVEN BY
CARDINAL SEÁN BRADY
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER 2004

Forty-four (44) years ago, almost to the day, I ceased to be a student of this College. I had just done the B.A. and begun First Theology. And then bang, wham, it all ended. Please don’t jump to conclusions. I wasn’t expelled. One day I was walking around, minding my own business. It was during the October Bishops’ Meeting. The Dean of the day, Father Michael Harty, a Killaloe man like Father Hillery, came to me and told me that my bishop, Bishop Austin Quinn, wanted to see me. We met outside the President’s Arch and, in a brief conversation, he indicated to me that he would like me to leave Maynooth and go to the Irish College in Rome. It was a bit of a bombshell. I was to think about it and let him know. And so that is how I came to forsake the green plains of Kildare and the perfection of Pugin for the majesty of Michael Angelo and the beauty of Bernini.

And I want to tell you that I had many regrets leaving Maynooth – breaking the links with my classmates – moving abroad, far away from my family and, not insignificantly, I was going to miss the graduation ceremony, or BA Day as it used to be called in those days.

Yes, in Rome I was going to rejoin three of my Maynooth class who had already gone before me. I recall that on the actual day of graduation, our thoughts were very much with our classmates here in Maynooth. We knew it was a day of joy and rejoicing – a day of festivity and celebration and we were rather sad not to be part of it. I think we sent them a message of good wishes. But in recent years I have had the joy of several graduation ceremonies and they are delightful occasions.

So I most heartily congratulate and rejoice with all those on whom degrees are being conferred today. I note that nearly all the counties of Ireland are represented, as well as graduates from Bosnia, England, Ghana, India, Israel, Maylasia, Scotland and Sri Lanka. I congratulate your parents and your families and all who have helped you reach this day. I congratulate the staff on the part they have played in helping you reach this important milestone in your lives. I rejoice with you all in the fact that this University is conferring diplomas, baccalaureates, licences, and Doctorates on a huge number of people. The documents in question, which are being handed over, testify in elegant Latin that a certain degree has been taken and that this degree confers rights and privileges of such degrees – for example, to teach or to minister. So, this is indeed a day of joy. It is an Alleluia Day.

I was in Rome a couple of months ago, during Easter week. A wee lad hopped out of a car near Piazza San Giovanni and ran up to the newsagent’s kiosk and asked, obviously, for his favourite comic. When the newsagent indicated that he indeed had the item in question, the young man exclaimed ‘Alleluia’. ‘Alleluia we have got it’. So, I think that is the sentiment of many of you today. Alleluia, we have indeed got there, and thanks be to God for all of that.

The Spiritual Masters tell us that celebration is the first and deepest response to the feeling that we are loved. With St. Luke in Chapter 10 we can say,

‘In the Spirit of God, I rejoice, celebrating, with thanksgiving, for as God’s little one, I have been shown the mysteries of the Kingdom’.

I hope that each one of you, graduating here today, can honestly say that during your studies you have been shown something of the mysteries, hidden things of God’s kingdom. We are celebrating the fact that, somehow or other; you were chosen to receive this education and that you have taken the opportunity. There are so many in the world who would give their right arm to get a similar opportunity. I can think of those that I saw in Rwanda last November or San Paulo, Brazil a couple of years ago.

But, in the designs of God, nothing happens by chance, the fact that today you are being conferred with a degree has not happened by chance. The original meaning of ‘Doctor’ is one who is doctus – one who has been taught to the point where she or he can become an instrument – a teacher – a person who inculcates learning, opinions and principles.

One of the great joys of teaching is seeing the reaction of young people when the mysteries of science or mathematics – the hidden delights of poetry and literature – are revealed to them. Theology is, by definition, the science of God. Philosophy is the love of wisdom. There is surely a deep sense of satisfaction – a deep sense of fulfilment – for those who have the courage and the learning and the will to reveal the hidden plans of God – the wisdom of God.

Celebrations are the first response to an awareness of being gifted by the Lord. Gifted and loved, what is the second response? It is gratitude. After celebration, gratitude is the deepest and human response to life and gifts received. And so, this the time to give thanks, not alone for the obvious things, the money, the support, the lifts in the cars, the loans of notes – whether it is bank notes or class notes – but also for the deeper things involved.

Ø Who gave you encouragement in times of distress?
Ø Who convinced you to hang on and keep going when you were mightily tempted to quit?

You know the way the players gather in a huddle, in the middle of Croke Park, before the throw in. I wonder what sort of language and what they say to each other. I heard Colum O’Rourke recently suggest that that language on such an occasion is very much a mixture of the sacred and the profane. Well, this is the final huddle of this particular team. The chances of this precise group ever assembling under the same roof again are pretty slim. So now the throw-in is about to take place. All the training and the exercises are over and now, in a sense, you are really on your own. The pump has been primed. The thirsty are already queuing on the village green with the buckets on their heads – to draw from the wells which you can provide.

This is the month of October – the month of Missions. One of the outstanding feature of the times in which we live is the growing awareness of the role of all the baptised in carrying on the work of teaching and instructing in the faith. It belongs to the mission of everyone – lay and cleric alike – Ireland has a proud missionary record – from Columcille and Columbanus down to the martyrs of recent years.

The Philosophers tell us that good is naturally inclined to spread itself and share itself. In recent times Ireland seems to have lost its missionary zeal. But the Ireland that has lost its missionary spirit is an Ireland that has lost an integral part of its christian faith.

At the birth of Europe – following the turmoil of the break-up of the Roman Empire – the emergence of Christianity took place in the midst of a blossoming of freedom and co-operation in Western Europe. Our early missionaries – led by Columcille of Iona and Columbanus in Bobbio – played a crucial role in that whole enterprise. Their memory is not forgotten. Just this week I got a letter from a friend in the Italian town of San Colombano a Lambro recalling the links between his town and Ireland.

Europe is once again in need of a New Evangelisation. The enlightenment, the extreme nationalism, Marxism and materialistic consumerism have done their damage and taken their toll on the soul of Europe. This happened essentially because there were movements without God. I think graduates of a Pontifical University are heirs to the spirit and tradition of Irish missionary activity and are well placed to play a part in that evangelisation. The Maynooth Mission to China and St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan had their roots and found their inspiration in this College. Cork gave the Church Edmund J Galvin, founder of the Columban Fathers. He came via Maynooth. He would have been a student in this College one hundred years ago.

In February 1920 Father Joseph Shanahan, the outstanding missionary in Africa, a native of Tipperary and a Holy Ghost Father, came here to plead for volunteers to help him in Nigeria. There was an immediate response – eleven (11) volunteering – led by P J Whitney of Ardagh and Tom Ronayne of Dublin. Out of that St. Patrick’s Missionary Society was born. By any standards the contribution of those two Societies has to be one of the most glorious pages in the history of the Church in Ireland in the last century.

This is a great time to be a graduate of St. Patrick’s College. The age we are living in can seem to many, to be a time of bewilderment. Yes, Europe, despite being more free and unified, feels weary. There are weapons of mass destruction of faith and hope, like practical agnosticism and religious indifference busily at work. Many Europeans seem to live today without spiritual roots. The diminishing number of birth shows that Europe is afraid of the future. People are afraid to make life-long commitments of any kind because they have no hope. This situation would seem to me to produce opportunities for graduates in philosophy and theology to confidently proclaim that Jesus Christ, alive in His Church, is indeed a source of hope for Europe.

I wish you new graduates well. I wish you great success and great happiness as you share, with others, the wealth of wisdom and knowledge and formation, which you have received on your path to this day.
AMEN

NATIONAL COMMEMORATION OF POPE JOHN PAUL II’s
VISIT TO IRELAND
HOMILY GIVEN BY
CARDINAL SEÁN BRADY
ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH
CLONMACNOIS – 19TH SEPTEMBER 2004

Honoured guests, fellow pilgrims, the visit of Pope John Paul II to our beloved country in September 1979 was a time of great joy. Those of us, who were old enough to be there, are never likely to forget it.
As we remember those days we become immersed in a cascade of images;

There was the spontaneous cheer of over one million people in the Phoenix Park as the Aer Lingus jet, the St Patrick, suddenly appeared overhead;
There was the singing of tens of thousands of young people waiting patiently for the Pope to arrive in Galway.

There was the joyful dignity of the sick and disabled who gathered for the Sacrament of Anointing at Knock.

And then, there was the quiet yearning of those who hoped for an end to violence in Northern Ireland, as they heard the Pope remind us at Drogheda that peace can never flourish in a climate of terror, intimidation and death.

Yes, extraordinary images of three wonderful days, days, which were, by any standards, historic. We remember them today with thanksgiving in this Silver Jubilee Mass.

But history does not stand still. Historic moments, however memorable, do not diminish the challenges, which every age must face. For each new generation is a new opportunity to address the challenges of the present with the wisdom of the past.

THE HOLY GROUND OF CLONMACNOIS

We stand on holy ground. All around us there are signs of the noble and deeply Christian past of the Irish people. For one thousand years, Clonmacnois was the one of the most important centres of learning and holiness, not only in Ireland but also in Europe. Clonmacnois has produced some of the most valuable books, which Ireland possesses. It is often referred to as the Westminster Abbey of Ireland. Countless kings and queens were buried here. Among these ruins there are two round towers, eight churches, three large sculptured crosses, a castle and over two hundred tombstones with inscriptions. Clonmacnois, and all it represents, has something important to say to us today.

No wonder that the Pope, on his return to Rome, said of Clonmacnois: ‘I will never forget that place… the ruins of the monastery and churches speak of the life that once pulsated there… Whole generations of Europe owe to them the light of the Gospel. These ruins are still charged with a great mission. They still constitute a challenge.’

At Knock, the Holy Father had spelled out that challenge. In quite prophetic words he prayed that prosperity would never ’cause Irish men and women to forget God or abandon their faith.’ He pleaded that they would ‘remain faithful in prosperity to the faith they would not surrender in poverty’. He hoped that they would ‘build a just and peaceful and loving society where the poor are never neglected and the rights of all, especially the weak, are respected’.

A NATION AT THE CROSSROADS

On that occasion Pope John Paul suggested that the Irish nation was at a crossroads. It would have to make a choice. One road led to a prosperous and confident future rooted in its Christian past, marked by solidarity, respect for nature and a deep reverence for the things of the soul. The other road led to a soul-less future, rooted in rampant consumerism and the glorification of the individual over the community. Twenty five years later it is not quite clear which road has, in fact, been chosen.

On the one hand we have enjoyed unprecedented economic success and a confident participation in the international community. All of this is to be welcomed. Today we thank God for the immense progress which has been made in the years since the Papal visit of 1979. And yet, there is a growing sense that we may have lost, or may be losing, something precious and important in the process.. We must look more closely at how our success has been achieved and how its fruits are being distributed. One commentator has spoken of the new soullessness of Irish society.

IRISH PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Many people wonder what the Pope would say to us now if he were to come again. My fervent hope is that God will allow him to do so sometime next year. Well, we got a very clear indication on September 6th last when the Holy Father addressed Ireland’s new Ambassador. Recalling that Ireland has recently achieved remarkable economic growth, Pope John Paul said, ‘A more prosperous society has greater possibilities of becoming a more just and open society. But it is also faced with new challenges, including the danger of a certain spiritual impoverishment and indifference to the deeper moral and religious dimensions of life’. ‘I am confident’, the Holy Father continued ‘that by remaining true to the values which has reshaped Ireland as a nation from the time of its evangelisation, your people will help to make an outstanding contribution to the future of Europe’. He described the steps taken during the Irish Presidency of the European Union in favour of openness to other peoples as inspirational, and he hopes that those steps will continue to inspire the attitude of the community to immigrants. He also expressed the hope that Ireland will continue to address this important problem with an open heart and persevering commitment. All of this prompts some questions.

What does the gap between rich in poor, in Ireland today, say about our sensitivity to the deeper moral and religious dimensions of life?

Has our more prosperous society, in fact, become a more just and open society?

I do not presume that there are easy solutions, particularly in a global economy, marked by instability and unpredictability. Rather, I think that this is an occasion to applaud those who are working to make Ireland a more just and caring society. One thing is certain – the Gospel is quite clear about the need for justice as a concrete expression of solidarity and love – and the need to judge our real wealth by the relative plight of the poor.

COMPETITORS AND COMMODITIES

Pope John Paul II once wrote, ‘The individual and society for whom nothing is sacred suffer moral decay in spite of appearances’. Conscious of the bitter lessons of Auschwitz and the Nazi manipulation of human life, Pope John Paul has emerged as the outstanding defender of the dignity of every human person and the outstanding spokesperson for the Gospel of reverence.

I get the impression that the sense of reverence and respect for all that is sacred has diminished significantly in our society in recent times. Life has become cheap. Violence is very common – whether on our roads, or in the markets, people have become competitors and commodities. Recklessness and aggression are the order of the day. Basic courtesy and respect for others becomes an option rather than an obligation. It is despicable to learn, for example, that in some places, attacks on people with disabilities have become a significant problem. Some see this as a matter of law and order, others as one of education. Is it is not rather an example of the spiritual impoverishment of which the Holy Father spoke?

A CENTRE IN MANY RESPECTS

Clonmacnois is located on the Shannon, of course the great waterway of this island. But Clonmacnois is also located on the Eiscir Riada – that continuous line of gravel hills that runs from Dublin to Carinbridge, dividing Ireland into Leath Conn and Leath Modh.

Clonmacnois, the geographical centre of Ireland, was also an outstanding spiritual centre for one thousand years. Here people came apart to find silence and to renew and enrich their sense of the sacred. They came to pray and to find their God and to respect and reverence that God, and creation. They followed a programme – the programme found in the Gospels a programme that had Christ at its centre.

The message of Clonmacnois is that a balance between prayer and prosperity, between society and soul, is not only possible but, in fact, highly desirable. In many ways, Clonmacnois represents a high watermark of Irish religious, economic and cultural achievement. That it happened in the context of a strong and unapologetic Christian faith is an important reminder to us all, that success does not have to be at the expense of the soul. Solidarity and the common good are consistent with the progress of the individual. The practice of virtue and a constant awareness of the presence of God can open up, rather than curtail the most creative and life-giving energies of the human person and society as a whole.

Pope John Paul urges us to remain true to the values which shaped Ireland as a nation at the time of Patrick and Ciaran. Clonmacnois, and its glorious High Crosses, tell us what those values are. The High Crosses are probably the greatest jewel of this magnificent monastery. The most gracefully proportioned of all the Irish High Crosses is the Cross of the Scriptures. The theme of that fascinating cross is the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Christ is represented no less than ten times. Faith in Jesus Christ was clearly an all-important value in this monastery.

ECUMENISM

Speaking to our new Ambassador, two weeks ago, Pope John Paul noted that the Church in Ireland is working together with other Christian communities and is committed to consolidating positive attitudes of understanding, respect and esteem of others, through ecumenical activities and education. The welcome presence of people from the other Churches, led by Bishop Richard Clarke is a sign of that working together. Today we commit ourselves once more to that working together for we know that the message of the Gospel cannot be separated from a call to a change of heart. Neither can the announcing of the Gospel be isolated from ecumenism and the promotion of reconciliation.

PEACE

The cause of peace in Ireland has always been dear to the heart of the Pope. Re-echoing his sentiments we salute the work of those who are doing their best to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Good Friday Agreement. Despite the recent set-back, we continue to hope and pray that their efforts will be blessed by God’s grace and bear fruit for the children of tomorrow.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me”? Jesus asked Peter by the sea of Tiberias. Down through the ages lovers have asked each other that same question alongside countless rivers and seas. Do you love me? Will you love me forever? Today, here by the waters of the River Shannon, Jesus asks the same question of each one of us ‘Do you love me’? And the reason is simple – the plan found in the Gospel, and handed down through the ages, remains the same, it has its centre in Christ. Christ is to be known, loved and imitated so that we may live the life of God and with Him, transform history.

We think of Mary today, Mary most holy, as Pope John Paul always does in his homilies. In her we come to know the transforming power of Christ. In Mary we see the world renewed in love. Like the monks who carved those glorious crosses, we turn again in hope and love to the contemplation of Christ. He is the goal to whom our hearts aspire in our thirst for lasting joy and peace. Christ, and Christ alone, can satisfy our hungry hearts. He and He alone, can sate our thirst for He, and he alone, can give the water that wells up to eternal life.
AMEN

SUMMARY OF REMARKS MADE BY
CARDINAL SEÁN BRADY
TO ”HATE CRIME” INQUIRY
EUROPA HOTEL, BELFAST
14 SEPTEMBER 2004

I warmly welcome this opportunity to participate, with the other Church Leaders, in exploring ways in which we can respond to the current situation where there is a significant and rapidly growing problem of ‘hate’ crime in Northern Ireland. This is a depressing and disappointing situation. It is depressing that incidents of ‘hate’ crimes have increased in recent times. It is very disappointing to learn that attacks against people with disabilities is a significant problem. The promise to tackle the problem more vigorously is very welcome. We need a concerted programme of action to address this problem. We need to promote the harmonious co-existence of individuals and peoples, respecting each other’s dignity, identity and traditions. Last Sunday, Racial Justice Sunday, reminded us that humanity exists as a single human family within which the concept of racial superiority has no place.

The fight against ‘hate’ crimes is urgent. The programme must begin at the level of legislation and practice. The Criminal Justice Act (No. 2 NI – August 2004) is welcome. It sends a clear signal that ‘hate’ crimes will not be tolerated.

Law enforcement on its own will not solve the problem. Legislation must be accompanied by education. Education in mutual understanding and tolerance and respect must remain a normal part of the educational programme for children, at all levels.

In view of the actual situation it is very surprising to find that the Department of Education, last April, decided to cease funding for the Churches Peace Education Project. This Project has carried out twenty-six years of pioneering work in this area. It is the only such programme to have the backing of the main Churches and subsequent access to both the Maintained and Controlled Sectors. The aim of the programme was to support schools in promoting mutual understanding. That support consisted in the production of a range of school based materials. At present these materials are being used in 500 out of 800 primary schools in Northern Ireland.

I welcome the fact that in the proposed legislation an offence will be considered aggravated by hostility if its perpetrator demonstrates hostility to the victim based on the victim’s religious group. True religious belief is absolutely incompatible with the attitude that underpins ‘hate’ crimes.

Hate is a complex, primitive emotion, often hidden and pathological in character. It can be both personal and collective. It also supposes certain personal failure and builds on the co-operation of others. In a situation of conflict, where there are varying degrees of cultural approval for attitudes of hate towards others, this hatred is more likely to manifest itself in violent behaviour. This requires that we confront the pathological cultural and social sources of hate directly and comprehensively, while at the same time respecting the dignity of the person that hates and desiring, not alone their punishment but also their transformation through appropriate education, psychological support and restorative justice initiatives.

CENTENARY OF THE DEDICATION OF ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, ARMAGH
HOMILY GIVEN BY
MOST REV DR SEÁN BRADY
ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH
SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2004

This Cathedral was dedicated and opened for worship on 24 August 1873 by Archbishop Daniel McGettigan. Although completed, the interior was then plain and uninspiring. But, over the next thirty years all of that was to change with the provision of the lovely mosaic, the ornately painted ceilings, the beautiful stained glass windows and the finely carved stone statuary. When all this had been done and paid for, as the law of the Church required at the time, the consecration could take place. The day chosen was 24 July 1904. Cardinal Logue was celebrating the Silver Jubilee of his ordination on the same day. Today, we use the chalice which Cardinal Logue used, for the first time, on that day. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. For His love endures forever, as the Psalms tell us. So, it seemed right and good to remember all of this and to give thanks at some stage during this year. That is why we are here today. Bishop Clifford and I welcome you all and thank you for coming.

In 1904 Ireland did not have diplomatic relations with the Holy See so Pope Pius X, now St. Pius X, sent Cardinal Vanutelli to represent him at the ceremony. Today we are pleased to warmly welcome Archbishop Lazzarotto, the Apostolic Nuncio, who, of course, is the permanent ambassador of the Holy Father in Ireland. Cardinal Daly, our retired Archbishop, is always most welcome among us. I am very happy that so many bishops are able to be here this afternoon. Monsignor Dan Carr represents the Bishop of Raphoe, the native diocese of both Archbishop McGettigan and Cardinal Logue. Monsignor Carr is especially welcome.
The Cathedral in any diocese represents the aspirations of the whole diocese. That is why is it so pleasing to have the representatives – priests, religious and lay faithful – from the parishes present in such numbers. You are all most welcome.

As you approach this blessed City of Armagh, there are certain points from which you are granted your first sight of this sacred place. Perhaps it is the facade and twin spires, perhaps just both spires, or even one, depending on the direction, and the lie of the land. I am thinking particularly of the approach along the Newry Road, as you cross over through the Drumlins. Let me call those points, ‘The Places of Joy’. In a similar way, The Crusaders who converged on The City of Jerusalem, The Holy City, at the beginning of the last millennium, carefully noted the points from which they could first glimpse the buildings of The City, and they named those places ‘Mount Joys’, or ‘Mounts of Joy’. Wonderful. Because, the first sight from a distance of a sacred place, of its towers and spires and minarets, is truly the re-kindling of an intimacy and a warm affection that ultimately reaches to the origins of everything we are and can be. That is, The Holy Trinity, Father and Son and Spirit. This Cathedral of St Patrick in Armagh is truly a place made sacred.

This centre of the local church is a Place of Divine Presence. It is enriched with the perpetual presence – the real presence. This Cathedral has witnessed so many moments and preserved so many memories, both joyful and painful. And, let me say this too, it is a reminder of that other sacred place known to each of us, the family home. I don’t consider this merely a sentimental connection, it is that also and we think of the many emotional journeys from the family home to the Cathedral – for Mass and marriage, for baptism and burial, for forgiveness and friendship. But, in celebrating the meaning of this Cathedral, I feel I should also emphasise this fundamental aspect of life – family life – in our diocese. As in this House, so too in each Christian Home

Each is a house-of-prayer;
Each an arena where The Spirit of The Lord Jesus is at-play;
Each a setting in which to carry out The Twin Commandments-of-Love!
Each a place of nourishing and healing.
Each a centre for learning the following of Jesus in this 21st century,
and each is especially the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity.

But is this anything more than a handful of sound bites, just for the occasion? Let us reflect a little more on this impressive building, while keeping the family home in mind, step by step.

Just as St Patrick’s Cathedral is a Temple made of well-wrought stones and metals and timbers, so too this diocese is a Body-of-Christ knitted together with Living Stones by The working of The Holy Spirit. I am very hopeful that we shortly can begin reflection on a long term Vision for the diocese that will gather us all together even more closely, as the active Body-of-Christ in 21st century Irish society.

The great desire of God for His temple has always been that it continue to be a House of Prayer for all nations. This is still a notable challenge to become a House of Prayer for all. With God’s Help, we will continue to extend our arms, as Jesus did, in openness, to praying with all.

For me, linked with this thought – House-of-Prayer – is the fact that the Cathedral is the place of the Bishop’s chair. It is not in any way a royal throne, rather from here, the bishop’s teaching and example go out to the whole diocese. It is not a case of pious boasting, or churchy talk, it is essentially what is expressed in my own motto: ‘To Know Jesus Christ’ It is an invitation which comes to us through St. Paul to know Jesus Christ and to know him intimately.

For many years now I have come to realise, as a priest, and now as bishop, that I can hope to come close to Jesus, only if I do what He did and if I encourage others to do the same. My desire is that all parents would take up the same role, towards each other, and towards their children!

One great biblical image I associate with the Bishop’s chair in this Cathedral is The Rock. I repeat, it is not at all a royal throne the bishop is sitting on, but
The Rock.
The Rock that is the Holy Trinity.
The rock that is the Christ.
The Rock that is Peter.
The Rock that is Patrick.
This is the rock that must inspire support and nourish all of us.

As I said at the beginning, as you approach Armagh you catch your first glimpse of the twin spires. They have been newly enhanced in the recent renovations. They stretch their arms to the skies as a hint or reminder of some truth or other.

Perhaps the Old and the New Testament,
Perhaps the two traditions in Northern Ireland,
Perhaps our Lord and Our Lady.

My own interpretation takes all of those possibilities into account. “The building and dedication of this magnificent Cathedral one hundred years ago was, in itself, a statement, a statement of faith and love. The twin spires are a reminder, visible to all, of the twin commandments of love, each mirroring the other:

Love the Lord your God
Love your neighbour and yourself.

Properly understood and practised, and especially not separated one from the other, the twin commandments would definitely underpin all political initiatives for the healing of society, both civil and religious.

Yesterday the world remembered the destruction of two other spires – the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in Manhattan, New York. That also was a statement, a statement of hatred. It opened the eyes of many to the forces of evil at work in the world.

Today we celebrate Racial Justice Sunday. It is a day on which we are encouraged by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland to focus our worship and our thinking on the theme of Racial Justice. Today we remember that the Universe was created by a loving God, where all human beings are equally children of God and loved by God. Since none is outside the love of God, none should be outside our love either.

There is one race, the Human Race. Until that message is heard and heeded, the safer world – so earnestly and eagerly desired – is not likely to materialise. The reason is that racism persists in our midst. It sometimes takes the form of brutal physical attacks which end in murder. Racism takes other forms as well, like popular prejudice against the Travelling Community or against people seeking asylum, or reluctance to accept people of a different ethnic group as neighbours.

I believe that the diversity of the human race was not a mistake on the part of God, nor is it a threat to anyone. Many people took a message from that horrific tragedy of the Twin Towers in Manhattan. They saw it as a reminder to take religion more seriously and no longer marginalise it, either in our own lives or in the lives of others.

The Twin Spires of Armagh remind us of the Twin Commandments of love. Only the Twin Commandments of love can ensure that never again will there be a repeat of atrocities like that of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, New York”.

Before he died in 1887, Archbishop McGettigan had the impressive seven terrace flight of steps constructed leading from the gate to the main door. I am sure they represent, for most of us, the effort involved in drawing near to The Rock that saves us. It is very pleasant, of course, to come around by car, especially in wet and windy weather, but you still wonder about them and what they are saying to us today.

That this place made sacred, is a sign from God for our contemporary world as
It reminds us of the faith and inspiration and self-sacrifice of those who built it
Its heart reflects something of the beauty of the Holy Trinity, which nourishes and encourages us.
It calls out to all of us, not least myself, to take up again the implications of following Christ and his twin commandments of love.

Every time we look at the twin spires what about saying a wee prayer. We could say it as home as well.
Jesus and Mary, help me to choose love instead of hate.
Enable me to put trust where there is only self-interest.
Give me the courage to love every one.
Irrespective of race, class or creed.